A delegation from UK industry body Mersey Maritime and some of its members visited the Isle of Man Shipping Association (IOMSA) for its October networking event – following the recently formed trade partnership between the two bodies.

During the event a member of the delegation Professor Ian Jenkinson, Head of Department of Maritime and Mechanical Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), gave a talk on ‘Trends in Technology and Skills for the Maritime Sector’ in which he discussed global trends and developments in technology that will impact on jobs and future skills.

The delegation took part in a series of trade development meetings during the one-day visit, finishing the day with the IOMSA Network Event and a dinner.

Mersey Maritime, the maritime cluster organisation that represents around 1,300 businesses in the north-west of England, announced it had signed a trade deal with IOMSA earlier this year, with the aim of supercharging bilateral trade among small to medium-sized businesses.

Mr Shirling-Rooke said: “I would like to thank IOMSA for their hospitality during our visit and their assistance in setting up meetings which we hope will lead to increased trade opportunities between the Liverpool City Region and businesses based in the Isle of Man. I would also like to thank Prof Jenkinson for his informative talk on skills in the marine and maritime sector.

“This is the beginning of what I hope to be a long-lasting and productive partnership with IOMSA and I look forward to many more similar events in the future.”